Walk into any athletic training room, whether high school or professional, and you will see athletes tending to their injuries with heating pads. While this is an effective way for athletes to get back on the mend, why not use that same technology to help out the aches and pains of everyone else? Thankfully there are several companies that are making heating pads that are available directly to consumers. These can alleviate pain, help blood flow, and generally calm tight areas of tissue and muscle.
When trying to figure out which heating pad to purchase, you are usually already in a bit of pain, so we have tried to make the process as easy as possible. We tested out the top offerings to gather some valuable information about them. Here is what we found:
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How We Picked
Heating pads can supply almost instantaneous relief for certain aches and pains. Using your own home electricity, you can power a heating pad that you can apply to almost all areas of your body. While customers will have a wide array of needs, some heating pads offer functions and features that might appeal to very specific types of customers. We’ve disseminated these different features for their relative value with regards to several different categories. Here are the aspects of heating pads we used to make our evaluations:
Heating options
No two injuries are ever alike, nor should the way you treat them. Most of the leading heating pads on the market will allow some variation in the heat level. Some offer a wide range of temperatures, even allowing users to adjust it per temperature Fahrenheit. Other offerings have preset temperature levels, which accommodate the average spectrum of user’s heat needs. If you feel like you may need more sensitive heat regulation, look for the devices that are more adjustable.
Comfort
Heating pads are almost always going to be flush against customers’ bodies, often for an extended period of time. Users will want heating pads that are comfortable not just because of their material, but also their shape, sturdiness, and places where component parts are connected or charged. Users with specific injuries or areas of the body with aches and pains should pay attention to the material and shape of heating pads and consider how it may lay comfortably against the affected body region.
Price
Some customers may just need a heating pad because of a strained hamstring from chasing after a dog. These customers may not be willing to fork out a ton of money for a device they may only end up using for a few weeks. However, for those looking to invest in a heating pad that can last and become integrated into a daily routine, there are many high-end products out there. These heating pads offer more options, namely for temperature and timing, but also have added functions that may make them a better long-term option.
Ease of use
These heating pads can have all the trappings a professional physical therapist could ever ask for, but if they aren’t comfortable to put on, easy to use, or confusing to shut off, then all might be for naught. Heating pads from most of the leading brands will have controllers attached, through which you can manipulate the temperature, timing, and even recall favored past settings. This may be beneficial to some users, but others may get frustrated with some of the more antiquated analog buttons and displays. If these devices are hard to put on or keep on your body, due to shape or lack of strap, then your muscles will have a hard time getting consistent and helpful heat therapy.
Buying Tips
Not sure which heating pad is best for you? We have listed some questions to ask yourself before making your purchase:
- How do you plan on using the heating pad? If you have a nagging injury or a consistent ache, then you may look for a device that can cater to your exact needs. More heat options, a preset shut-off option, or a velcro strap may raise one heating pad to a higher rank than another. If you are just looking for a lower-cost heating pad to help you get through a minor discomfort, then you could probably look for a less technically complex device.
- What is your budget? The range of price points for heating pads can vary from under $30 to hundreds of dollars. Professionals or those hoping to replicate the care one would receive at professional physical therapy office at home may opt for expensive devices with a lot of adjustability and safety settings, like a settings “lockout”. There are lower cost products available for those who will probably only need one or two different heat settings to accomplish their recovery or relaxation goals.
- What type of heating pad is for you? There are dry and moist heating pads, and there are infrared heating pads that use your home’s electricity in a different way. The far-infrared waves can often reach deeper layers of tissue and muscle, which can provide more relaxation and relief. Dry heating pads can leave the skin feeling dehydrated, but may be ideal for some climates and personal needs. Moist heating pads utilize moisture to help the heat penetrate, but not all will like the moist texture of the pad.
